Acetylene generator



y 18, 1950 D. H. BAILEY 2,515,168

ACETYLENE GENERATOR Filed April 25, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet l I N VEN TOR. Dd rza 1752620 July 18,-1950 D. H. BAILEY I ACETYLENE GENERATOR Filed April 25, 1945 Jgz. 5;: a

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VEN TOR.

Patented July 18, 1950 ACETYLENE GENERATOR -Dana Hamilton Bailey, Delavan, Wis., assignor to John R. R. Miles, Inc., Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Wisconsin Application April 25, 1945, Serial No. 590,276

Claims.

This invention relates to an acetylene generator having a novel arrangement for automatically introducing comparatively coarse calcium carbide crystals into a body of water for generating acety- Ilene gas.

One object of the invention is to provide automatic feeding means for the crystals in the form of a simple mechanism operated by the generated, gas itself and the amount of operation accurately controlled in accordance with pressure of the gas generated.

Another object is to provide an acetylene generator of this character having various constructional features that insure maximum safety in its operation and safety particularly against explosion.

Still another object is to :provide safety features which insure that the residue of calcium hydroxide in the water tank will be discharged and a Fresh supply of water introduced each time a new charge of calcium carbide is introduced into the carbide hopper. I L

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrange- :ment and combination of the various parts of my device whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully' set forth,' pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of my acetylene generator with portions thereof broken away and other portions in section to show constructional details;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view on the line '22 of Fig. 1,.showing the carbide hopper and a feed conveyorfor the carbide;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 2 Fig. 4 is a partial side view looking at Fig. 1'"

from the left;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4 showing a pressure relief and blowoff valve;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 66 of Fig. 4, showing a water filling tube;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view on'the line !'I of Fig. 4,,showing a flush and drain valve;

Fig. 8 is a sectional'view on the line 8-8 of. Fig.

'7, showing further details of the flush and drain valve; 1

Fig. 9 is an enlarged plan view as on the line 99 of Fig. 4, showing the relief and blow-off valve;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view on the line lB--lll of Fig. 4, showing carbide hopper details; and

Fig. 11 is a sectional view on the line H- l of Fig. 2, ShOWiIlg a plan View of the carbide feed conveyor. I I

On the accompanying drawings I have usedv the reference numeral ill to indicate a main tank for holding a supply of water l2. Within the tank It the gas is generated as will hereinafter appear.

The tank 10 has an annular seat I4 at its upper end receiving a gasket [6 against which a carbide hopper I8 is seated. The hopper I8 has three brackets 20 as shown in Figs. 1 and 10 welded thereto and clamp plates 22 coact therewith and cooperate with studs 24 welded to the top of the tank [0 for retaining the hopper l8 against the gasket H5 in gas-tight relation to the tank H]. At the top of the hopper l8 a filler plug 26 is provided which may be screw threaded into the hopper with a suitable gasket for sealing purposes.

The lower end of the hopper l8 opens asat-IS into the tank H) (see Fig. 2) and a cut-off valve 28 is adapted to seat against the end [9 when desired. The cut-01f valve 28 is mounted on a valve rod 30 which is pivoted to a crank 32 of a rock shaft 34. The rock shaft 34 is journaled in the top of the hopper I8 and passes out through a gas-tight packing 36 to terminate in a control arm 38. This arm maybe normally in the position of Fig. 1 during operation of the gas generator, and when it is desirableto close the valve 28 the arm 38 can be rotated one-half turn clockwise which causes the crank 32 to pull upwardly on the rod 30 and pass dead-center forholding the valve 28 in closed position. v

Calcium carbide in the hopper 30 is shownat 40. The carbide crystals 40 may be comparatively coarse; for instance, A .x /2 of an inch in diameter. For effectively feeding coarse crystals of this character I provide a novel feed conveyor including a pair of pulleys 42 and 44 around which a conveyor belt 46 is trained. The conveyor belt slopes as shown in Fig. 2 so that the carbide crystals 40 can pile up on the belt with a back plate 7 48 preventing them from rolling off the lower end 2,516,168 I g 4 able framework 50 suspended from the carbide any atomized water from passing outwardly hopper I8. The sides of the framework are through the outlet H6. The outlet is also prosloped to form guide surfaces for the carbide vided withashut-ofi valve I 24 when it is desirable crystals to direct them toward the center of the to shut-off the gas pressure to the hose connected belt 46. with the outlet I I6.

For automatically driving the conveyor belt 46 Referring to Fig. 5, I provide'a b1ow-off and I provide. a gas operated wheel 52 (see Fig. 3) safety valve. comprising housing parts I26 and I28 which'is mounted on a shaft 54. The shaft-5 secured together with a diaphragm I39 between is journaled in a housing 56 which is mounted them. The diaphragm I30 is normally pressed within another housing 58. The housing 56 1:5110 downward by a spring I32, the tension of which narrower than the housing 58 as shown in Fig.1, is adjustable by means of a set screw I 34. A valve and at the left end of the shaft 5t-l provide a discdtfi is secured to the diaphragm I30 and is chain drive 60 from this shaft tov a second shaft normally-seated against a seat I38 by the spring 62. The shaft 62 extends out of; the. housing-'58 I.32."-.-{The setting ofthe safety valve may be a dethrough a gas-tight packing 64 and is connected .l5, sired-fpercentage above the setting of the autoto a shaft 66 on which the pulley 44 isrnounted. matic regulator valve in the housing IIJ2I04.

The means of connection is'a universal joint in The =housing- I26 has an outlet boss I40 with the form of a yoke 68 on the shaft 62 engaging a awhich a blow-off pipe I42 may be connected if it cross arm III of the shaft 66. is desirable to discharge the blow-off gas to a re- A manual means isf-providedfor rotating the motepoint such as outside a buildingin which "shaft 66. This means is in the" form of a rod69 the .generator".is'ginstalld.' The "housing I-Zfi is extending throughagas-tight packingli of the connected to communicate with'the interior of ft'ank' lfl'anddte'rminating in a handle 12. The in- ,theftankj Ijfl through anipple I44 extending from 'ner end of the rod 69 has a head 74 slottedasat'lfi the tank.

tocoactwith a cross pinJS of the shaft filij The 5 A rock shaft I46 .is journaled in thehousing 'shafti58 is slidable as well as rotatableain the portion"Izaandfhas a cam I48 within the hous- .P g 7 ing (see"Figs.fl5. andi 9). [This cam is adapted to 1R t rn e 0 the gas o erated W "as .liftna wire yoke I50,when1the rock shaft is rotated shown in Fig. 3, it Will be noted'that thiswheel clockwise for ma nua'lly opening the, valveiisfi for .h a p O Side fi fin a f i 1 plates blow-off purposes when recharging the generator. [182' terminatingin circumferentially extending VVAn gg is f ormed on 9116 end of the gck gfl g 'g' ,Apass'flgeway 85 islprovided Q IQ shaft, I46 and hasj pivqteid thereto a safety rod ducting gas downwardly through a quantlty of 154 extendingfupwardly through eyes. {56 and W3 water. S8 which serves as a seal-off between the 1n- DVBrIthe-V of fine-finer plug other 1 he tank a Outlet 131.9679 9 t p end of the rocksliaffiiflt terminates in an armfISH ing fromthe top'59 of the'housingtlt and-comand a counterweight 5L .imu ns passiaegewayaml T f a second safety r'od I64. is pivoted to this arm *--'8-5commun1cates atts lower end wit'h a' -gas' d1sand'dextends' w w t ah 85,8166 bn charge nozz1e'92 arranged in relation to the wheel 11 52- so-that the gas discharge's-on'the right sideof 3 g ffgff g g i 33 a vertical center-line through the axis of rotation e erme 5 )3 01: Wheel, thuschargmg with gas thespockets acting with a safety latch llllethat s-associated formed= bythe cross plates 82ia'n'd theirfianges 84. Twlth a"wate.nfiner' cap The nzthteads "This tends to 'rotate. the wheel: 52. 'counte'rclockr 1 f f "4 and ti "=wisezto thereby. rotate the shaft? fitualsoicounter- 5 catedwlthm thecap' 1 i b a'metal clockwise. The gas pockets are indicated-.a'tiw in also fie i m -i i .P for 3 pose of forcingthadisc. I16v against the outer end For regulating the rotation of the' wheel :52:in aofrthe finer W fl-"A afieriheis Screwed wan automatic manner I provide a brake pulley-94 Onto the 5 ":on the shaft fit surroundedrbyaazzbrakeiband in he lower -endof-the safety rod I64 extends the-'formofan e easformedon a rod '98. The rogh a uid -b ac s a -p i M0- rod 98 extends upwardly through the pipe-90 and action with. a-TPiV-O Ed m- 84 On a dr nvalve terminates in attachment to .a' diaphragm ,IIJIJ u n e dr V ve housing has &

within a housing formed of a bottom-member. I02 valve seat I88 -against..which a valve disc I9!) is .alnda top memberjlll i. .Theseimembers are.suit-.- normally seated bmscrewing-avalvestem' I92 .outably.bolted,:together,..and,withinthemember'.I04 -wardly.to.thefullline position of'Fig. 8. ,Aknob a springr I0j6.is.,,mounted. .The spring I06 islad- IBILisprOvided on the stem'for thispurpose. =-jus1tab1e=as to;tension..by.meansof ,angadj usting .Thearm. I84 is.pi votejd.at ISIS to aboss I98on .fscrew I08 to automatically maintain a predeter- ;the. .va1ve.bodyilflfi. I It isiconstrained to move mined gas pressure vvithinthe generatorasliwill 6o .clockwisein Fig.1? by a spring ZIJIL and'a stop pin .hereinafterappear. r '202 limits'this movement. At the inner orwide 1-.f1hehousingTIll2-has an..out1et,pipe1-I-I0 (see -open position of..the.valve I86 -I90, as shown in -;Fig. 1;),enteringfa head 'I I2 ofla water .seal tank Fig.7 and. by dotted linesin Fig. 8, a web 2% of {.II lwhichactsas-a hydraulic'safety valve.inc'ase the knob I94 is adapted to swingthe arm I84 to .ofbackiire. Thetankilthasan outlet II IE to 21: the-full line-position oflFigi. When the web'ZM Ihose-which may jextend to.aweldingtorchorthe is moved away from the arm byunscrewing the .like where oxygen is also supplied to thetorch for valvestem I92 to close the valve disc ISBas shown weldingoperations, or.the hosemayv extend to any in full lines-in Fig. 8, the spring'f2fi0 will rotate the 1deviceusingitheigasgeneratedby means ofmy armclockwise unless thesafety rod I64. is in. the

e generator. 70.positi0n of Fig. 8 for a purpose which will.here- Between the pipe I I0, and the outlet] I 6 there is i er pp .apipeIIB dependingwithinjthe tankIMand ter- -Referring to Fig.1, an agitator plate .206 is 'minating in an outlet, check valve I20 for further mounted on a rock shaft ZIlS extendingout of the isafety. ,againstbackfire. I "Perforatedbafiie plates tanklIIl through a, packingflZIll; The rod 2118 ter- I22 are mounted within the tank I I4 to prevent "1ninatesin'a handle 2 ['2 for manual manipulation.

the tank I0 is filled with the water I2 to: the level v of the filler tube I14, as shown in Figs, 1 and 6.

Considering the hopper I8 filled with calcium carbide and the housing 58 filled with water as well as the safety tank, I I4 filled with water to the level indicated, the generator may be about one revolution, which results insome of the carbide crystals dropping from the upper end of the conveyor, as sho-wn in Fig. 2, and into the water I'2. This resu'ltsin generation ofgas which fills the space in the tank .I0 above the water level, displacing air. therefrom through the outlet II6.

The pressure of the gas as it is being generated can be observed on apressure gauge I29 screwed into the safety valve housing I26. The generator is purged of air by leaving the valve I24 open until enough gas has been generated to displace the air. The generatedgas, in passing to the outlet II6, first enters the passageway 85 and displaces the water in it, the water merely passing into the housing 58 and remaining there.

The gas, in leaving the passageway 86 through the discharge nozzle 92, enters the gas pockets indicated at 83 in Fig. 3, in the wheel 52. This makes the right side of the wheel. lighter than the left side so that thewheel rotates counterclockwise, thus driving the shaft 56 counterclockwise through the chain drive 60. 'Thus, after the beginning of the generation of gas caused by manual manipulation of .the. handle 12, further carbide is automatically fed to the water by rotationof the shaft 66 causing the conveyor belt 46 to travel counterclockwise;

When the gas pressure has increased to the setting of the spring I06. it will haveraised the diaphragm I00 to a position where the hook 596 of the rod 98 will frictionally engage the lower side of the pulley 94 on the shaft62, thusstopping its rotation. Any gas generated thereafter merely passes upwardly around the wheel 52 into the housing 56 and then through the opening 51 in the top of this housing and into the pipe 90 without rotating the wheel 52. There is of course enough clearance between the wheel and the housing 56 to permit free passage of the gas in After a hopper of carbide has been exhausted and the hopper hasto be recharged, it is desirableto drain off the water I2 from the tank I0 and the calcium hydroxide therein formed by the calcium carbide as it generates acetylene gas. 'If the water and calcium hydroxide are not drained and another hopper of calcium carbide is used with the same water, there is danger of an explosion because of too much carbide in proportion to the supply of water.

The dimensions of the tank I0 and the hopper I8 are so related that one hopper of carbide used with one tank of water is safe, but to insure thatthe water is drained out every time a fresh hopper of carbide is used I provide a safety'arrangement including the safety rods I54 and I64, the operation of which will now be described;

Before removing the filler plug 26 from the top of the carbide hopper it is desirable to relieve the gas pressure in the generator. This is accomplished by opening the valve I36 of Fig. 5 by lifting the weight I62. This rotates the. cam I48 clockwise to lift the left side of the valve disc from the seat I38 and thereby permits blow-off of the excess pressure. At the same timethe rod I54 is pulled downwardly as to the dotted position in Fig. 1 so as to permit access to the lower end of the rod I64 is pulled upwardly, from in front of the lever I84 so that the spring' 200i (see Fig. '7) will swing the lever to the dotted line position. It is now impossible to push'the rod I64 downwardly again to its original position by lowering the weight I62, thus indicating to the operator, after he fills the-carbide hopper, that thereis a further operation to be performed, to wit: the draining and flushing of the tank I0.

The downward movement of the safety rod I64 is prevented by its location above the right-hand this manner. Thus the pressure of the gas is,

automatically maintained. 1

The gas passes from the housing I02 of the pressure regulating valve through the pipes H0 and II 8 and through the check valve I20 into end of the lever I84 in the dotted position of Fig. 7. In order to return the lever I84 to the full line position of Fig. 7 so that the rod I64 can move downwardly, the knob I94 must be rotated to its inner limit of movement as shown by solid lines in Fig; '7 and dotted lines in Fig. 8. During the last revolution of this movement the web 204 engages the left end of the lever I84 for swinging it from the dotted position to the full the safety tank H4. It bubbles upthrough the,

water therein and passes through the perforated baffie plates I22 to theoutlet H6 and fromthere to the welding torch or whatever, mechanism is being operated by thegas.

In the event that excessive gas pressure isge from the conveyor 46by the operation of the i wheel 52.

line position, thereby permitting the tank to be drained through the wide open valve I90. During the draining operation the handle 2I2 may be manipulated for agitating the water and cal- ,lcium hydroxide to effect a complete draining op- I eration.

'Since the tank is now drained it will be necessary to fill it again with water and to do this the set screw I is loosened for backing the rubber disc I16 off the end of the filler tube Il4 without causing it to rotate thereon, and thus be d amaged by such rotation. As soon as the disc is oil the filler tube, the cap I12 may be removed as shown in Fig. 6, which will permit the latch M0 to drop down to a position that prevents the filler cap from being put on again until the latch is raised to the position of Figiland the weight I 62 lowered'to holdthe latch this positioni" i'lhe set screw .rso (is, then tightened' for sealing the filler tube, rand'the genrator isiin condition for starting operation v by,mal'iipulation':o'f the II 12, prevent ready access to v the latch I10 to Q turn it to theposi'tionbf .F g, 1., This'insures ft'hatwthe capwillfhave'fto'be removed and will nrvejas a reminder to the operator to replenish "the. .water, .s1ipply whenever he refills the carbide fxhoppeia, U

,jErom the foregoingspecification it will be ob- ;Viousthat Ihav'e provided an automaticj means "above a predetermined ,degree pre vents further f,eeding vuntil isuchtiineas the pressure drop's 'beiigldwithatde Provision hasbeen made. f r safely operating the generatoruby requiring "that f the recharging ,inp mmons be performed in proper sequence, the

'afetylmechan'ism ,being arranged so as "to *pre- Liclii'de an possibility of the loperatorforgetting brjne'glectingto provide a freshcharge ofwater lavish to 'be understood as limiting "this invention to the precise fqrm herein "disclosed, except as I {may be so limited b'y'the appended claims.

" Iclaim as rny inven'tio'nz' 11.1In. actylenejgenerator, a tank for-water? -a hopper mounted thereon for carbide, means for feeding carbidejrom 'said hopper to, said tankin ccor danc e,with the pressureof'the gas generated fit-C drain, valveandspring'biased tonne Position, a safety rod preventing movement for said lever due toits spring bias, said safety ro'd b'ein connected ithisaid blow-off valvefor preventing elosingiof the fblowofi valve except when said. dnain valve has ,hee'n 'moved to, an open position; said drain tam when in said position engaging said 'leyer ,t0 move it against its loias to thereby jpermit "jvleinent 'ofisaid satety ro'diby Closure IQifsaid -ofiva 1v'." m anjac etylene generator, a tank for water, .aghopper .thereabove ,for carbide, means for automaocauy feeding carbide from said hopper; to ai d tank, a .bloweoff valvefior said tank, a filler ndle l2, asaIready described; A, giiardf flange I ltd, in 'front v.of' the rod,{ l 68, and the size of the jlforflfeeding carbide crystals which are compara thegas, generated so thatany' increase inpressure" ispiritland scope thereof. I do not, therefore,

he said tank a'bl'ow ofi valve forsaidtank, a 6 rain .valvefor said tank, a level p t/ e 0, t

irz t f f Qs d, ho er,.,,m ns r ,pr ve it nsf to its spring bias, said safety rod being connected with said bloweofi' -valve Tor-preventing closing of theblow-ofi valve .except when said drain valve vhas'loeenmoved to an op'en}.position,.said drain yv'alve when in said position engaging, said lever 'tolmove' it against .its 'bias to thereby. permit movement df saidi safety rodby closure of said blow-ofi'valve. 1

3. In -an acetylene generator, a water tank, a

1 0 jhopp'er thereabove for carbide, meansfor automatically'jfeeding carbidefto said tank comprising acarbide 'feed'mechanism adjacent the bottom of the hopper to receive carbidetherefrom, a mlotorjfor operating said feedmechanism driven 51 by "acetylene gas'iorm'edin 'sai'd'tank, a container for;sai'd motonsaid motor being positioned adjapent"thebottorn'fof said container, a conduit j for "acetylene gas :conn'ecte'cibfetween the top of said tank andv the bottom of said'container tofeed gas to said motor,"said inlet conduit and said container being filled with water, anoutlet conduit for aCetylene' J'gaS from?the topof said container, a hackfire "chamber connecting at its'top with said you et conduit andf'having a vertical standpipe gs foi conveying s ai"d"acety1ene gas to the bottom thereof,'anoutletforacetylene gas from the bot- *tom' of said standpipe, an outlet for acetylene gas ffromthe top'of said-chamber and a passageway formed bythe 'charnber to convey gas from the bottom :of said s ndpipefto the outlet at the top 30f saidjchan ber idch'aniber being filled with ater to :a level 'tocover'thetgas'outlet at the .bot-

tom it e' t nfizi The apparatusplaimed'inclaim 3 wherein jb'afiiestare-provided in {the Ibackfire chamber to prevent the ater thereinifrom entering the outfil re or v i a v 5,1In anacetylene generator, a Water tank, a "hopper'jthereoverffforfcarbide, "means for auto- 40' imatically feeding carbide from said. hopper to said' tankf comprising a' carbide feed mechanism adjacent 'the "bottombfsai'd hopper to receive "carbide therefrom; 'a motor for operating said feed mechanism driven by acetylene gas formed in said'tank, a'container"for said Hinton-said motor being disposed'ad'jacent the'bottomof said container, za -secon'd contaiher surrounding said motor'container-anol having a passageway therein {for conveying 'ajcetylene gas from said tank to "said' motor, an opening in the bottom of said 'motor' container affording passage of said acet 'len'e gas' 'in'to the motor, both of said containers bein'g filled with water, an acetylene gas outlet 1 from the top of said motor" container, and a conduit connecting with 'saidoutlet for conveying acetylene gas from said t arik. 6; In ari'jacetylefie"generator, a watertank, a "hopper theredver Ton-carbide, means for automatically*feedin'gfcarbide"from said hopper to 6'' said" tank comprisinga carbidefeed "mechanism I 'adjacent the'bpttorn -'0'f said hopper to receive hoatbidentherfroirr, a -motor for operating said feed-mechanism driven by acetylenegas formed in said tank, a container *for said motor, said niotor' b'eing;disposedadjacent the bottom of said j; container, "a' second'container surrounding said i motor container and 'having' a passageway therein lfor conveyingacetylene gas from said tank "'tojsaidmotor, ari dpening in the bottom of said 7Q motor"container afiording passage of said acetyflenegas into the motor, both of said containers 1" being filled withwater, an acetylene gas outlet l f E m the topioi said motor container, a conduit I I connecting with said outlet for conveying acety- 76 l'en'e gas'fromsaidtank, and an acetylene gas operated brake for said motor including a diaphragm in communication with said outlet conduit.

7. In an acetylene generator, a tank for water having an inlet for adding water thereto, a removable closure for said inlet, a latch operable in one position for preventing disposal of said closure in closing position on said inlet and operable in another position to permit such disposal of said closure, a hopper mounted on said tank for carbide, means for feeding carbide from said hopper to said tank in accordance with the pressure of the gas generated in said tank, a blow-off valve for said tank, means operable by closure of said blow-off valve for holding said latch in a position permitting disposal of said closure on said inlet, a drain valve for said tank, a lever pivoted thereto and spring biased to one position, and a safety rod preventing movement of said lever due to its spring bias, said safety rod being connected with said blow-off valve for preventing closing of the blow-oil valve except when said drain valve has been moved to an open position, said drain valve when in said position engaging said lever to move it against its bias to thereby permit movement of said safety rod by closure of said blow-off valve.

8. In an acetylene generator, a tank for water having an inlet for adding water thereto, a hopper mounted on said tank for carbide, means for feeding carbide from said hopper to said tank in accordance with the pressure of the gas gener ated in said tank, a blow-off valve for said tank, a drain valve for said tank, a lever pivoted thereto and spring biased to one position, a safety rod preventing movement of said lever due to its spring bias, said safety rod being connected with said blow-off valve for preventing closing of the blow-off valve except when said drain valve has been moved to an open position, said drain valve when in said position engaging said lever to move it against its bias to thereby permit movement of said safety rod by closure of said blow-off valve, a removable closure for said inlet, a latch operable in one position for preventing disposal of 1 said closure in closing position on said inlet and operable in another position to permit such disposal of said closure, and means operable by closure of said blow-off valve for holding said latch in a position permitting disposal of said closure on said inlet.

9. In an acetylene generator, a tank for water having an inlet for adding water thereto, a hopper mounted on said tank for carbide, means for feeding carbide from said hopper to said tank in accordance with the pressure of the gas generated in said tank, a blow-off valve for said tank, a drain valve for said tank, a lever pivoted thereto and spring biased to one position, a safety rod preventing movement of said lever due to its spring bias, said safety rod being connected with said blow-off valve for preventing closing of the blow-off valve except when said drain valve has been moved to an open position, said drain valve when in said position engaging said leverto move it against its bias to thereby permit movement of said safety rod by closure of said blow-off valve, 1

a removable closure for said inlet, a latch operable in one position for preventing disposal of said closure in closing position on said inlet and operable in another position to permit such disposal of said disclosure, and means operable by closure of said blow-off valve for holding said latch in a position permitting disposal of said closure on said inlet.

10. In an acetylene generator, a tank for water; a hopper mounted thereon for carbide; means for feeding carbide to said tank; a combination manual blow-off and automatic safety valve for said tank; a drain valve for said tank; a closure for said inlet; a carbide filler plug for said hopper; a lever for manually venting said blow-off valve, and a single leverage system including said lever, means operative in one position to block removal of the carbide filler plug before the blow-off valve is manually vented but operative in another position to permit such removal after manual venting of said blow-01f valve, means operative in one position to block reclosure of said blow-off valve before said drain valve has been moved to open position but operative in another position to permit such reclosure after said drain valve has been moved to open position, and means operative in one position to block replacing of said water inlet closure after removal thereof before manual closing of said blow-off valve but operative in another position to permit replacing of said water inlet closure after manual closing of said blow-off valve, said leverage system being actuated by manual movement of said lever to insure venting of said generator before addition of carbide, draining of said generator before gas generation is resumed after addition of carbide, and addition of water to said generator after draining thereof.

DANA HAMILTON BAILEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 637,252 Harris Nov. 21, 1899 1,175,568 Smith et a1 Mar. 14, 1916 1,255,308 Harris Feb. 5, 1918 1,410,603 Russell Mar. 28, 1922 1,466,540 Miller Aug. 28, 1923 1,719,162 Beck July 2, 1929 1,918,479 Milne July 18, 1933 2,008,821 Fausek July 23, 1935 2,255,536 Smith Sept. 9, 1941 2,367,240 Smith Jan. 16, 1945 2,370,630 Baker et al Mar. 6, 1945 

1. IN AN ACETYLENE GENERATOR, A TANK FOR WATER, A HOPPER MOUNTED THEREON FOR CARBIDE, MEANS FOR FEEDING CARBIDE FROM SAID HOPPER TO SAID TANK IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PRESSURE OF THE GAS GENERATED IN THE SAID TANK, A BLOW-OFF VALVE FOR SAID TANK, A DRAIN VALVE FOR SAID TANK, A LEVER PIVOTED TO THE DRAIN VALVE AND SPRING BIASED TO ONE POSITION, A SAFETY ROD PREVENTING MOVEMENT OF SAID LEVER DUE TO ITS SPRING BIAS, SAID SAFETY ROD BEING CONNECTED WITH SAID BLOW-OFF VALVE FOR PREVENTING CLOSING OF THE BLOW-OFF VALVE EXCEPT WHEN SAID DRAIN VALVE HAS BEEN MOVED TO AN OPEN POSITION, SAID DRAIN VALVE WHEN IN SAID POSITION ENGAGING SAID LEVER TO MOVE IT AGAINST ITS BIAS TO THEREBY PERMIT 